A broken pattern, also referred to as a color misdraw, is a subtle fabric defect that disrupts the intended design.
Understanding Broken Patterns in Fabric
According to the provided reference, a broken pattern is the result of a wrong draw in the color pattern. This defect is considered very subtle.
How Does a Broken Pattern Occur?
This type of defect is probably done during the tying on a new warp. The reference specifically notes that if a tying-in machine misses one end of a particular color, this error will break the pattern for the rest of the width of the fabric.
In summary, the cause is a misplacement or omission of a colored thread during the initial setup of the warp threads on the loom, leading to a visible disruption in the fabric's intended color sequence or design across its width.